At the family-owned and operated Buck’s Island Pontoon and Bass
Boat Warehouse, new for 2020 are the Bentley Pontoon line, the Caymas Bass Boat
line, plus three new Skeeter fishing boat offerings and expanding selections –
including kayaks and accessories – at The Loft at Buck’s Island, the pro-level
tackle store.
Located in Southside on Neely Henry Lake, Buck’s Island is a
full-service, new and used boat dealership that specializes in pontoon boats,
bass boats and aluminum fishing boats. In business on the Coosa River lake in
Etowah County since 1948, Buck’s Island also sells new and used outboard motors
and has 18 dedicated service bays providing maintenance, service and repairs on
all types of boats. Buck’s also welcomes trade-in boats and offers used boats
of all varieties.
An on-site, pro-level tackle store called The Loft carries full
lines of reels, tackle and clothing and accessories. Online ordering is
available at shopbucksisland.com.
Founded by Buck Lumpkin 52 years ago, Buck’s Island remains in the
family, says co-owner Mary Lumpkin, who operates Buck’s Island with husband
Tony, Buck’s son. “And we are proud to say that our daughters and son-in-law
are going to carry on the business, as the third generation.” Daughter Angela
and husband Israel and daughter Katie are already working at the business
founded by their grandfather,
The Loft at Buck’s Island, opened in fall of 2018, is geared to
professional tournament anglers with a professional buyer helping to stock the
tackle store that sees customers from throughout the state, Mrs. Lumpkin says.
With a huge selection of tackle, reels and lures, The Loft also carries
clothing and hats from all the brands they sell, plus sunglasses and clothing
from Costa and Calcutta Outdoors.
Added to The Loft’s offerings in late 2019 were kayaks, the
fastest-growing market in boating. The Loft carries Jackson Kayaks, a brand
founded by Olympic kayaker Eric Jackson and made in Tennessee, and YakAttack,
USA-made fishing gear and accessories for kayaks.
Brand name boats offered at Buck’s Island include Bentley and
Crest Pontoon boats, Caymas Bass Boats, G-3 Boats, Polar Kraft fishing boats,
Stingray bowrider boats, Falcon Bass Boats, and Suncatcher Pontoon boats by
G-3, a Yamaha marine group company. Buck’s also specializes in Yamaha and
Mercury outboard motors.
Of the new lines and models for 2020, the Bentley Pontoon “is a
lot of pontoon for the money,” Mrs. Lumpkin says. “We’re happy with the line
and how it looks, the quality and the pricing.” The same goes for the Caymas
Bass Boat line that’s new to Buck’s Island this year.
She says the new tri-toon standard for pontoon boats, with three pontoons and up to 300 hp motors that allow for pulling skiers or tubers, are becoming the preferred family and friends boating option for Buck’s customers. But runabouts, like the Stingray bowrider boats, remain popular. Fiberglass bass boats generally outsell aluminum fishing boats at Buck’s, depending on how customers like to fish, with the new fishing kayaks now in the mix for fishing the Coosa River and its lakes.
B.A.S.S. tournament puts Logan Martin on national map
Story by Carol Pappas and Bassmaster Writer Thomas Allen Photos courtesy of Bassmaster
Even the rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm on and around Logan
Martin Lake as more than 200 anglers from all over the country and Canada
launched the inaugural 2020 HuK B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by
TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia March 5.
The historic event, held during the Bassmaster Classic weekend on
Lake Guntersville and the BASS Collegiate Series Championship on Lay Lake,
chose Logan Martin as its inaugural site for the up-and-coming sport of kayak
bass fishing.
Hosted by the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce, local
officials quickly recognized the impact this national tournament had on the
region. “We had over 200 anglers from all over the United States and Canada
visit Pell City, stay in our area and patronize our local businesses,” said
Chamber Executive Director Urainah Glidewell. “We heard so much positive
feedback about how welcoming, warm and accommodating Pell City has been from
the anglers. We appreciate being a part of this inaugural event.”
Chamber President Caran Wilbanks agreed. The Chamber, she said,
was “honored and proud” to have hosted the inaugural tournament. “Over 222
kayakers, along with some of their families, came here from across the nation
and as far away as Canada to fish in our beautiful lake and to shop and dine in
our wonderful city.
“The comments and feedback we received from the anglers were all
positive and enthusiastic about their Logan Martin Lake and Pell City
experiences. We hope this tournament will be the first of many in the years to
come.”
City Manager Brian Muenger cited the economic impact of the lake
and tournaments like these. “We were extremely pleased at the turnout for the
event. The total registration for the event was more than double the
initial estimate we received from B.A.S.S., which speaks to the unique appeal
of the event,” he said.
“More than two-thirds of the 222 fishermen came from outside of
the area, and most came several days in advance to pre-fish for the event. The
lake is a major economic driver for our area, and events that bring in outside
anglers for long periods of time help increase that impact even further.”
Chasing the big fish and the trophy
Davis topped the field of 222 anglers with a strong five-bass
limit measuring 87 3/4 inches.
Davis’ big fish measured 20 inches to cap off his winning limit,
earning him the $10,000 first-place purse.
Logan Martin is the third reservoir along the Coosa River, which
begins in northwest Georgia and runs south to the Alabama River. The Coosa
River is home to the legendary Coosa spotted bass, one of the strongest fish
that swims. However, to win on Logan Martin, a big largemouth or two are
necessary.
Davis caught nearly 40 bass during official competition, but his
limit consisted of three solid largemouth and two spotted bass.
Clear Creek hot spot for tourney
“I launched in Clear Creek, along with many other kayakers, and
spent the day working a short length of bank,” Davis said. “This part of
Alabama is saturated, and there was plenty of current rolling through the lake,
which helps the fishing. I got on a short stretch of rocky shoreline and
literally fished it all day long.”
He said the current was positioning the bass along an edge that
seemed to reload with fish by the minute.
“I spent seven hours on that little section and never moved,” he
said. “I used a Storm Arashi spinbait the entire time, which is unusual for me
because I typically throw a Senko. However, the spinbait was the only lure I
had that matched the baitfish I was seeing. The fact that I was fishing from a
kayak forced me to slow down and focus on a specific area, and it worked.”
Davis fished out of an Old Town Predator PDL that he’s had for two
years.
“I sold my bass boat and bought a couple of kayaks. The Old Town
has been incredible,” he said. “I’ll be fishing from a kayak as long as I can.
I love it.”
Mark Edwards from Pipestem, W.Va., wrapped up his event in second
place after a solid day on Logan Martin where he produced a five-bass limit
measuring 84 3/4 inches. Edwards runs a Native Watercraft Titan and attributes
his success to its stability and accessories.
“I run a Torqeedo kayak trolling motor, which was critical to
covering a lot of water and dealing with the current running through the lake
right now,” Edwards said. “I started in Clear Creek on both days of practice. I
found fish in the main lake pockets, but in a kayak, I couldn’t cover enough of
those pockets to be competitive. So, I focused on the fish I found in Clear
Creek and it paid off.”
Edwards’ limit consisted of two largemouth and three spotted bass.
“The spotted bass were schooling all day long in Clear Creek and I
managed to catch some nice ones throughout the day,” he said. “This was a great
event on a great lake even though it rained nearly the entire day. I’ve been
fishing competitively from a kayak for three years and I’m super excited to see
it getting national attention from Bassmaster. That’s going to take this
community to new levels and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Jonathan Lessmann of Madison, fished out of a Bonafide 127 rigged
with a Torqeedo trolling motor, YakAttack accessories and a Humminbird Helix 7.
“I launched in Clear Creek and watched the water muddy up as the
day went on,” Lessmann said. “But as the current picked up, I was able to catch
fish from a mudline on a consistent basis. I threw a custom white spinnerbait
with a hybrid skirt in two feet of water or less to catch most of my fish.
After several passes, I was able to narrow down the specific area where the
bulk of the fish were staging, and it really paid off.”
Lessmann is a disabled Army veteran and found that competitive
kayak bass fishing is good medicine for the body and soul.
“I can’t really stand for long periods of time, so a kayak is a
natural fit,” he said. “I’ve always been an avid fisherman. Without fishing I
don’t know what I’d do. Thankfully, a veteran friend of mine introduced me to
the sport, and I’ve been crazy about it ever since.”
Rounding out the Top 10 were Eric Siddiqi (84 1/2 inches) of Ohio,
Lance Burris (84 1/4) of Missouri, Dave Sewell (84) of Indiana, Jimmy McClurkan
(83 3/4) of Tennessee, Mark Brinkley (83 1/4) of Tennessee, Rus Snyders (83
1/4) of Tennessee and Corey Racer (83) of Texas.
Most Basssmaster kayak events take place and wrap up in the same
day. But because this was Classic week, B.A.S.S. invited the top 10, competing
for more than $30,000 in cash, to cross the Classic Stage at the Birmingham
Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham the next day. Organizers thought it would
bring more excitement and exposure to the inaugural event.
The
B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series continues on Lake Fork in Texas, Tennessee’s
Chickamauga Lake, the Upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., and wraps up
at Clear Lake in Northern California.
Story by Linda Long Discover Archives photos Submitted photos
Each year thousands of people flock to one of the public parks on
Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes. Alabama Power operates two of those parks,
Ten Islands at the Henry Neely Dam, and Logan Martin Park, now named Double
Cove, next to Logan Martin Dam.
But that’s not all to choose from. Lakeside Park, located adjacent
to the Pell City Civic Center and run by the city, is another popular spot.
Josh Yerby of Alabama Power explained that in addition to
providing hydroelectric power to its customers, the company also provides all
kind of opportunities for recreation, which is why it has begun a new
initiative called “The Preserves.”
“The nature of Alabama Power land holdings lend themselves
to extensive green and natural spaces that can play host to and offer a variety
of unique outdoor activities,” he said “The Preserves are core to the Alabama
Power ideal of merging nature with crafting special places. These lands allow
people to enjoy, learn and grow a deeper appreciation of our state’s ecology
and natural landscape.
“They allow our citizens to access and enjoy our lakes. They are
inclusive and open to all. The Preserves will be located throughout our service
territory with varying amenities, such as playgrounds, trails, boat ramps,
picnic areas and fishing piers.”
Those amenities are exactly what draw visitors to both Ten Islands
and Double Cove. Yerby says the newest addition at Ten Islands is an almost
2-mile nature trail complete with rustic designed gazebos sporting their tin
roofs.
“This park is a very popular place for people to go,” said Yerby.
“It’s part of the Alabama Birding Trail, which always draws a lot of visitors.”
Double Cove
Logan Martin Park, known as a mainstay of Alabama Power-operated
parks was renamed Double Cove by Alabama Power as part of The Preserves.
Yerby says the park offers a two-and-a-half mile hiking trail and
a new playground for the kids and is completely handicapped accessible. It’s
equipped with a boat launch, swimming area, picnic areas and fishing piers.
Both Alabama Power Parks are day use, free admission and are open
from dawn until dusk.
Yerby explained that while Alabama Power is required to provide
recreational opportunities for stakeholders, according to their license, “we go
above and beyond those requirements with additional facilities and by exceeding
the industry standard for recreation sites. Our mission is to create and
maintain amenities for people of all interests to enjoy while promoting healthy
lifestyles, economic development and adding positive contributions in each
community.”
Lakeside Park
Lakeside Park in Pell City is another favorite. Picnic areas and
pavilions are available along with an approximately one-mile, non-motorized
walking trail and Kids Kastle, an impressive and imaginative playground the
community built in a single weekend.
The park is a popular spot for fishing tournaments, including
national and state brands, like Bassmaster Classic, Crappie USA and Alabama
Bass Trail. It most recently hosted the inaugural Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S.
Nation Kayak Series powered by Tourney X presented by Abu Garcia. It drew 243
boats and anglers from around the country.
The park itself is 67 acres fronting Logan Martin and features
dozens of ways for the entire family to enjoy the outdoors.
From picnics to swimming at the park’s beach to fishing from its
docks or launching your own boat, Lakeside Park is quite a destination point
for outdoor enthusiasts.
There are four pavilions for rent, an Alabama native plant walking
garden, the Wetlands Project with viewing platform, an amphitheater and outdoor
exercise equipment.
But arguably the most popular destination point of all is the
splash pad. With its 40-plus water features, there’s no mistaking the fun in
the sun for kids. It features pavilions for rent for events, like birthdays,
and it even has after-hours, private party opportunities.
It’s
closed on Mondays for maintenance, and it is open seasonally from May to Labor
Day.
Is anything better than a day on the lake? With a boat? How about
a day on the lake with 80 boats? That’s the plan from organizers and sponsors
of this year’s Logan Martin’s LakeFest and Boat Show, May 15-17, at Pell City’s
Lakeside Park.
Produced by the Logan Martin Charity Foundation, the popular event
marks its 10-year milestone with what is billed as the largest in-water boat
show in the Southeast.
“It’s a lot of fun. We have vendors, crafts and music all weekend
long, said Eric Housh, event coordinator, “but the centerpiece of the whole
thing is the boat show. For this 10th anniversary, we’ve got some really
special things planned.”
Boat dealers will present over a dozen lines of boats with some 80
models, from pontoons to speed boats and personal watercraft and just about
everything in between. Those interested in buying a boat can get “up close and
personal.” They can even kick the wheels, so to speak.
“So, they get in the boat and take it out for a test drive,” said
Housh. “It’s a try it before you buy it sort of plan. It’s really a great
opportunity to try it out see how the boat feels while it’s actually on the
lake.”
Housh says he was brought on board as event organizer “back when
the thing was just an idea.” That was 10 years ago, which means he’s now been
planning, organizing, communicating and coordinating for the past decade.
“I think the first year we had maybe five to seven hundred people,
over the whole weekend,” Housh recalled. “In year three, we got flooded out.
Last year, we had close to 20,000 over the course of the weekend. We’ve grown
from meager beginnings of just a few hundred people to a great event.
We’re proud of it.”
No admission is charged, since the entire event is funded by
sponsorship dollars. America’s First Federal Credit Union is one of the lead
sponsors and does onsite financing for the boat show. Others are “local
businesses,” Housh explained. “Whatever we don’t use to produce event we donate
back to local charities,” he said. “Over the course of the event, we’ve donated
over a quarter of a million dollars. Last year, we gave $31,000. This year we
will probably double that. We’ve set aside funds for the past several years to
do some massive improvements to Lakeside Park.”
Those improvements include a new park pavilion and some
enhancements to one of the piers for public safety and to facilitate boat
parking.
Housh said his favorite part of the three-day event is set for
Friday night when local veterans will be honored with a dinner and a fireworks
show.
And, as always, the event is “flush with giveaways,” including a
boat and an ATV, Housh said.
The Mustang Museum of America is celebrating the one-year anniversary of
its opening in Odenville and cementing its place as a regional go-to attraction
for automotive enthusiasts from around the country.
It joins the likes of the Barber Motorsports Park and
museum in Leeds and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega
County.
For many automotive
enthusiasts, two car lines have dominated the highways in America.
One of them, the
Chevrolet Corvette, has had a museum all its own in Bowling Green, Ky., for
years.
Now, thanks to the
efforts of one family and backed by local businesses and the City of Odenville,
that other car, the Ford Mustang, has a museum right here in St. Clair County.
Housed in a huge steel
climate and humidity controlled building, the Mustang Museum of America opened
March 17, 2019, on Forman Farm Road in Odenville, and since then, the expansive
attraction had been drawing hundreds of fans of Lee Iacocca’s famous Pony Car
from across the country.
The museum is the
brainchild of Robert Powell, who says, “I had been thinking about a car museum
for 15 years” and finally decided to make it a reality.
Powell, who had been
working for Progress Rail, was nearing retirement — which he officially took
Feb. 1 — and started putting the pieces in place about five years ago.
“With the collection of
Mustangs I had put together, and the help of my two sons and their cars, we
started to figure out what we were going to do,” Powell said.
It was a natural move for
Powell — he had been the president of a local chapter of the Mustang Club of
America in Tampa, Fla. Even back then, they were thinking about the possibility
of a museum.
Powell grew up in
Alabama. In fact, he saw his first Mustang at a gas station in Odenville as a
teen. “I thought it was the most beautiful car ever put on the road. I was in
high school, so of course I could not afford one. But I started following the
line. Back then, I would get together on weekends with my friends in high school,
and we would drive around looking at car dealerships to see what they had on
the lots.”
When work brought him
back home from Florida, he and his wife and sons only thought it would be
natural to open the museum here.
“We think this could be
an anchor attraction for North St. Clair County,” he said. “I moved here when I
was 6. I grew up here, went to school here. St. Clair has been good to us. We
feel a loyalty to this area.”
With the support of local
civic leaders and business owners like Lyman Lovejoy, Powell unveiled his plans
for the Mustang Museum of America during a special community meeting in
mid-2016. They had already procured the necessary property, were starting on
plans for the building, and between Powell, his wife, Carolyn, and sons
Jonathon and Gary, already had upwards of 70 Mustangs in their personal
collection.
Plans called for the
museum to house between 100 and 120 Mustangs — a number they are already close
to reaching with 102 cars on hand. “We want to have one of every model year
through 2015, plus a police car version from every state that used them,”
Powell said.
Thanks to the generosity
of collectors and organizations dedicated to preserving Mustangs, who have
either loaned the Mustang Museum cars or donated them outright, there are only
a few gaps in the long rows of cars on display where they are still missing
models.
And alongside the
standard models are a number of specialty cars of historic note, including the
Mustang test bed used to benchmark the SVO Mustangs. It is one of the compact,
slant-fronted Fox bodies that marked the return of the Mustang as a dominant
force in American automotive manufacturing in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
That car looks rough, but
Powell says that is part of the history of the test vehicle. “I wanted it left
this way. It is part of what makes the car unique. This is the standard Mustang
that they ran against the SVOs in tests to see how they performed.”
They also have the
Fox-body Mustang Ford sent to California to be used to test the viability of
Mustangs as police — and much more commonly, state trooper — cars. That test
eventually opened the door for states across the country to adopt the Mustang
as a go-to law-enforcement interceptor vehicle.
Other cars that were
limited runs to promote brands, pace cars and race cars are also part of the
collection.
And though there was a
time when many die-hard Mustang fans would not admit that Ford’s smaller
Mustang IIs were part of the Mustang family, the museum boasts a large
collection of those, too. And that includes some of the sporty models that were
seen on TV shows, Charlie’s Angels in particular.
Times have changed,
Powell said, and most Mustang enthusiasts now consider the Mustang IIs as part
of the Pony Car family, with a number of people who specifically seek out and
restore them, helping with the museum’s collection.
In addition to the cars,
the walls of the museum are adorned with advertising, magazine articles and
other art – even an original, full-size billboard – that tell the story of the
Mustang.
“Lee Iacocca had to
really fight to get the Mustang built,” Powell said. Ford had just taken a big
hit with the failure of the Edsel, and when Iacocca said, “We need a new car
line,” he was told he must be crazy. But Iacocca, who passed away in 2019, was
known for his dogged determination, and the first Mustang was built — the 1964
1/2 model. The official launch of the 1965 Mustang would be Ford’s most
successful roll-out since the Model A.
The museum is a
non-profit effort overseen by a seven-member board of directors. Powell serves
as the managing director. His son, Gary, is the manager, and his other son,
Jonathon is the assistant manager.
Powell admits it has been
a learning curve for him, his family and everyone else involved in the project,
but their hard work is paying off.
Visitors from around the
country are making their way to Odenville, some just go a little out of their
way while passing through the area, others as parts of organized car clubs and
similar events. They even had a Honda Goldwing motorcycle enthusiast club make
it a point to put the museum on one of their routes.
That is exactly how
Powell had originally envisioned the project – not just as a museum, but as a
venue with large outdoor spaces and plenty of parking to host crowds and bring
events to St. Clair County.
He also readily admits
the business they are seeing now is just a small part of what the museum can
mean to the community. They did a soft opening and have gradually been seeing
business ramp up as word gets out about the museum, something Powell says will
be key to its success.
And he was quick to point
out that they are part of a much bigger picture – drawing motorsports
enthusiasts to the region. Races at the Talladega Superspeedway and events at
Barber Motorsports Park are part of that draw, especially since both of those
tracks also have museums on site, with more on the way at Barber.
Powell said the people at
Barber have been especially helpful.
“When I first started
thinking seriously about doing this, I talked to the people at Barber, and they
were very supportive,” he said. They have even talked about creating a regional
motorsports museum pass to cover several of the museums on one ticket.
His sons have been
bringing some of their cars to events at Barber and reached out to the venue
for guidance and the possibility of cross promoting their attractions. The
response and support have been more than Powell ever could have expected, he
said, lauding them for taking the big-picture approach to making the museums
and tracks regional and national attractions.
Other local businesses,
like BEI Electronics and Graphics and SVP are also important parts of the
community effort that have made the museum possible, helping with paint or
custom decals to return even the most worn-out Mustang to original condition.
Powell tries to keep cars in as close to original condition without restoration
as possible, but some vehicles need a full bumper-to-bumper rebuild before they
are suitable for display.
The Mustang Museum of
America is open Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but Powell said they
will open pretty much any time to accommodate visitors; they just need to call
ahead and let them know they are coming. l
Andrea and Bubba Reeves grew tired of the rat race, so they
decided to build their future on the past. The couple, who live in the Greasy
Cove community of Gallant, recently reopened the store that her grandfather,
Jesse “Junior” Smith, ran for decades.
In the six months it’s been open, Greasy Cove General Store has
once again become the place where neighbors can catch up on news, buy milk or
eggs and find a sense of belonging.
“This doesn’t feel like a job to me, it just feels like home,”
Andrea said. “We’re bringing family and community back together. We have a lot
of people who come in and get teary-eyed and emotional because they have so
many memories from when they were young and used to come in.”
Andrea knows how they feel. Her grandfather, who always gave her a
cold drink in a glass bottle and a Zero candy bar, closed up shop in 2015,
about a year before he died. Bringing his store back to life has been even more
meaningful than she expected. “I can imagine him sitting here and me and my
brother running around when we were kids. Everyone comes in and says, ‘Your
granddaddy would be so proud of you,’” Andrea said and grinned. “I think he’d
be mad I messed with his store.”
While there are many nods to the past – the original pine floors
have been restored, the old checkout conveyor belt serves as the lunch counter,
and old cash registers and oil cans are part of the décor – there have been
many changes, as well. For starters, the Reeves changed the name from B&B
Grocery, which it had been long before Andrea’s grandfather took it over, to
better capture the eclectic mix of merchandise they’ve offered since opening
last September.
A little bit of everything
“We try to carry something for everyone,” Bubba said. There’s
produce, including oranges, apples, tomatoes, cabbage, rutabagas and 3-pound
bags of peanuts. They’ve got the basics covered, as well, stocking items like
Amish butter, hoop cheese, bread, corn meal, sugar and coffee. There’s also a
line of jams, jellies, syrups, salad dressings and pickled foods that carry the
Greasy Cove General Store label.
You’ll find gift items – many handmade – including jewelry, soaps,
paintings, leather goods and wooden trays, puzzles and crosses. They carry
typical convenience store items, like chips and candy bars, as well as a mix of
the old, including Circus peanuts, wax bottle candies and old-fashioned stick
candy. Antique coolers are filled with glass-bottle drinks, including
Coca-Cola, Sprite, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and Grapico, and there are canned drinks,
orange juice, buttermilk and bottled water.
Merchandise in the parking lot changes with the seasons. Fall
mums, hay bales and pumpkins gave way to fresh-cut Christmas trees, wreaths and
garland that Bubba brought back from the “World’s Largest Christmas Tree
Auction” in Pennsylvania. Spring bedding plants, hanging baskets and herb and
vegetable plants are making an appearance, and furniture such as Adirondack
chairs, rocking chairs, porch swings and Bubba’s handmade cedar tables have
been a huge hit with customers.
“If we can save someone a trip into town, we want to do it,”
Andrea said. “This has been a tremendous leap of faith. We just jumped in with
both feet and haven’t looked back.”
The Reeves aren’t exactly sure how long the store, which changed
hands several times before Junior took over, has been a fixture in the
community. Some say the original store opened in 1939; others say it dates back
later than that. It’s been part of Andrea’s family history, however, since 1980
when her father, Carl Smith, started working there part-time as a high
schooler, pumping gas, changing oil and fixing brakes.
A year later, the owners
put it up for sale. “I talked to Mom and Dad about buying it, and they
co-signed with me on the loan,” Carl said. He planned to run the place himself,
but his parents wanted him to finish school. He continued to work there after
school and during summers until college beckoned, and his dreams began to
change. “I’m kind of a wanderer, and I like to go and do,” he said. “If you’ve
got a store, that’s not going to happen. Dad was content being out there at the
store, so I kind of left it with them.”
The store soon became Junior’s baby. After retiring from the Navy,
he did some “truck farming,” growing produce and selling it in Birmingham-area
farmer’s markets, so it was a natural fit for him. “My dad was the kind of
person who didn’t meet a stranger,” Carl said. “You’d stop in the store and by
the time you got ready to leave, you were one of his best friends.”
Under Junior’s care, the grocery quickly became a gathering place
for the “old-timers,” who swapped stories and tall tales, Andrea said with a
smile. “If Granddaddy didn’t know the whole story, he made up the rest of it.
Before there was Facebook (and pages like) What’s Happening in Gallant and
What’s Happening in Ashville, it was ‘What’s Junior got to say?’”
Chances are, he’d be proud that Andrea and Bubba chose a
family-centered lifestyle for themselves and their three boys, Eli, 14; Casey,
12; and Colton, 8. They weren’t thinking
about the store until Carl broached the subject. “It had been sitting empty,
and it needed to be torn down or fixed up before it fell down,” said Carl. “I
asked them if they wanted it.”
Bubba, who grew up on a farm on Straight Mountain, was working
full-time for Carl, who now owns a machining and fabricating company. He was
also farming on the side, running his produce stand in Ashville and longing for
a simpler routine. “My whole life was flying away, and I wasn’t getting to enjoy
it,” he said. “People are in too big of a hurry nowadays, and sometimes you
just need to slow down.”
Andrea, a registered nurse, had worked for a hospital and
rehabilitation facility and felt like she was missing her sons’ childhoods. “By
the time we’d get home, they’d already told someone else about their day and
didn’t want to tell it again,” she said. While they’d planned for Bubba to run
the store while she continued working, she quit her job two days before it
reopened.
“We’re happiest when we’re here,” she explained. “My kids get off
the school bus here just like my brother and I did. It’s one of those things
you just hope God will make a way for you, and He did.”
Labor of love
The community shared their excitement. “We started cleaning it out
by the truckloads and people were stopping by and saying, ‘What are you doing
to Junior’s store?’” They also shared their memories with the family, recounting
the store’s many lives. “It’s been here since my Dad was a kid,” Carl said. “It
used to be right up the hill, but when they built Gallant Road, they rolled
that building down on logs and turned it to face the new road.”
Although he eventually quit selling gas, Junior didn’t make many
changes to the store. “It was in bad shape,” Andrea said. “We pretty much
gutted it and took it to the studs.”
Bubba, who also has a background in cabinetry and custom
woodworking, rebuilt the walls with wood from fallen trees and added the front
porch that houses produce, furniture and sleds. He built the front counter and
the bathroom vanity and covered the ceiling in old tin that came from the roof
of Junior’s mother’s house.
Antique wagons are used to display merchandise both inside and
out. The original bottle opener is attached to the new counter, and an old door
featuring handwritten party line phone numbers of neighbors, the Post Office
and the Sheriff’s Department is propped nearby. An old corn-husk hat made by
Andrea’s great-grandmother is framed and hangs in a prominent spot. “There’s a
lot of history in this place,” Bubba said.
While Andrea and Bubba are happy to honor the past, they want to
create new memories, as well. After paintings by Andrea’s mother, Cindy Smith,
flew off the shelves, she began offering painting classes a few times a month.
“When the ladies leave here with their artwork, they feel so accomplished,” she
said. “It gives them a good two hours to come and visit and forget their
troubles.”
Andrea, who is also a licensed cosmetologist, has been known to
give a haircut or two in the front yard, and now they plan to update Junior’s
fishing shack to make it a regular offering. They’ve hosted community events
like Christmas in the Cove, complete with Santa, bluegrass music, arts and
crafts, cookies and hot apple cider. They also have plans to open the kitchen
and start serving soups, deli sandwiches and burgers soon.
Although she and Bubba have been fighting over who gets to do the
cooking, Andrea isn’t sweating the details.
“We’re just going to wing it like we’ve done since this whole thing started,” she said. “This has been such a blessing, and the community has been so supportive. We’re loving every minute of it.”
